Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1898

40 degrees. Clear & cloudy. Variable. Ther. 40^o Sun. Jan. 16th, 1898 Wind.

I went to see Old Mr Oldfield again & sat there some time talking to his son from the West. (Geo) Edward went to meeting & heard three sermons, one from Edward Farquhar & one each from two women friends/strangers): Afternoon I was called on next door to prescribe for Mrs Robison. Dora, Alice P. Edwd & I walked over to the School House. Towards evening it clouded over & looks like more rain.

Clear. Ther.30^o Mon. Jan. 17^th 1898. Wind. N.W.

Clear & frosty. I went to the mill. Geo Matthews was here for a certificate of disability. Willie came & took lunch with us. Afternoon I rode with Willie & far as Ashton & walked back. After supper Edwd rode over to "Mt Airy" to a meeting of the "singing class" Kate Stabler called about dusk. Ernest reported his father's having a good nights rest and was feeling comfortable this morning. Recd postal card from sister Mary.

Clear. Ther. 25^o Tues. Jan. 18, 1898. Wind.Variable.

Clear & frosty again. I went to the mill. John Bowen called whilst I was away & left a dollar for me . Afternoon Ella Hood Thompson & her daughter Eve Hood were here for advice & medicine for the latter. George Oldfield called to see me about his father & mother. Edwd took Alice Peirce home towards evening. I went to the baker's for some bread. Willie & Fanny came to supper. After supper Willie, Fanny, Dora & I went to the Lyceum to an exhibition or entertainment given by Jos. Janney of a "Graphaphone" which was excellent. We all enjoyed it very much except that the room was too cold. Audience not as large as it should have been.

Cloudy. Ther. 29^o Wed. Jan. 19^th 1898. Wind. N.E.

Went to the mill for corn for the horse before breakfast. I had considerable trouble finding the stable key which Edwd lost last night. I did find it however. It has been cloudy & threatning all day, the air raw and chilly & feels like snow. Afternoon Levi Webster (colored) called to see me. The roads are extremely rough; except on the turnpikes, being frozen hard after having been muddy & cut us with wagons. Tonight at bed time it is drizzling and sleeting.

Rain & Cloudy. Ther. 40^o Thurs. Jan. 20^th 1898. Wind N.E. & S.E.

Rained all last night & continued until about noon today but remained cloudy & threatning with occasional drizzles. I went to the store & to the mill It cleared off about sunset. I went to the store & P.O. Frank Fairall was here to see Edwd about supper time. Frank Robison also called to borrow the "Montgomery Ward Catalogue". After dark I carried an armfull of wood up stairs & in passing through the room over the office I miscalculated the distrance & stepped over the edge of the "stairwell" & fell the entire distance (there being no railing around it) and injured myself seriously: it is a mercy I escaped as well as I did. I fell on my left hip & back, besides striking my left hand. My greatest fear is that I have injured my spine & hip joint.

Clear & Cloudy Ther. Fri. Jan. 21^st. 1898. Wind.

Frank Cook called me up about 1-30 this a.m. to prescribe for his infant daughter. With much suffering and Edwd's assistance I prepared medicine for it. He was here again three times this morning Willie also called at breakfast time. Edwd rode back with him to Ashton for some medicine & for me & walked back. I am suffering a good deal this morning with pain in my back & hip but so thankful am I that it is no worse that I must not complain. I gave W the money to pay our insurance tax and he did so. Afternoon E drove to "Riverside" & Brighton for Alice Peirce. Sarah Edwards was home for a prescription for "Arthur" (her husband). After supper Dora, Edward & Alice Peirce went to Mrs Ellicott's & spent evening.

Cloudy & Rain Ther. 40^o Sat. Jan. 22^d 1898

Rain & disagreeable Willie came and took Alice Peirce home leaving "Sally" in our stable & driving "Charley". Harry Fairall was here helping Edward fix their telegraph instruments. Charley King was here & I paid him 60 cents that I owed John Beall (stage driver). I am feeling very badly in consequence of the fall I had. The weather is bad for me. Willie, Fanny & the baby came about 4-30p.m. Edwd went to a meeting of the Jr musical at "Pen Y Bryn" Harry Fairall came after dark & he & Edwd worked at fixing the telegraph again. The weather is still stormy & disagreeable out of doors. I wrote to Sister Harriet.

Clear. Ther. 40 Sun. Jan. 23, 1898. Wind. S.W.

Bright & clear today. Edwd went to meeting. I was not able to go. Afternoon Mrs Robison came in for a while. Willie & Fanny left for "Fairfield" at about half past one o'clock. The baby not seeming very well they thought it best to get back before it became too cold. The wind was blowing quite a strong gale when they left.

Clear. Ther. 30 Mon. Jan. 24 1898. Wind. N.W.

Considerably colder this morning. Bro Charles had another hemorrhage last night or this morning but much less in extent than the others. Edwd drove over to "Riverside" to enquire after him and home before dinner. Afternoon Susan Thomas (colored) was here for advice & medicine for her little girl. Mrs Robison & Kate Stabler were also here I have not felt as well today, having taken cold in some way. The fire went out in our room last night as I was afraid to keep it up on account of the high wind.

Cloudy, Snow & Sleet. Ther. 29^o Tues. Jan. 25^th 1898. Wind. S.E. & N.E.

Cloudy & rain & commenced snowing & sleeting about 10 o'clock a.m. I walked up to the mill before noon. Mrs Robison was in to see Dora. I am still feeling very lame and sore from my fall. I had much headache but am very thankful it is no worse. Arthur Edwards was here for advice etc. after "lunch time". Afternoon about 3 o'clock whilst it was snowing and sleeting we had several bright flashes of lightning & heavy thunder which is unusual in January. I went to the mill again. Harry Fairall came after supper to practice telegraph with Edwd The weather is extremely disagreeable & stormy tonight. Rain, hail & sleet.